Country Music Anyone?

[Smoke]

Although country music has grown better in recent years, I still cannot stand it in gereral. True, some of the musicians are superb, but most of the singing tends to remind me of fingernails scratching down a blackboard... and the lyrics... *shiver*

Sometimes the lyrics are the best part! I mean, you just have to like a song like, "You're The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly," or "Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through The Goalposts Of Life." Don't you?

Loretta Lynn's "Fist City":

You've been making your brag around town
That you've been loving my man
But the man I love, when he picks up trash
He puts it in a garbage can

And that's what you look to me
And what I see's a pity
You'd better close your face and stay out of my way
If you don't want to go to Fist City

If you don't want to go to Fist City
You'd better detour 'round my town
'Cause I'll grab you by the hair of the head
And lift you off of the ground

I'm not saying my baby's a saint, 'cause he ain't
Or that he won't cat around with a kitty
I'm here to tell you gal, you lay off of my man
If you don't want to go to Fist City
​

And then there's the Chicks' immortal "Long Time Gone" with its indictment of insipid Nashville product:

Now, me and Delia singing every Sunday
Watching the children and the garden grow
We listen to the radio to hear what's cookin,
But the music ain't got no soul
Now they sound tired but they don't sound Haggard
They've got money but they don't have Cash
They've got Junior but they don't have Hank
I think, I think, I think
​

Or "The Storms Are On The Ocean":

I'm going away to leave you, Love
I'm going away for a while
But I'll return to you sometime
If I go ten thousand mile

The storms are on the ocean
The heavens may cease to be
The world will lose its motion, Love
If I prove false to thee
​

Just not the same without the lyrics. (Same goes for the blues.)

 

[PureX]

Since my wife and I moved to the wonderful town of Ft. Worth, TX, we have started listening to quite a bit of country music. I've grown to love it, especially because many of the lyrics employ a variety of rhetorical color that I appreciate.

On another thread here in RF things got pretty messy and someone said that Toby Keith is an idiot. Even worse than that, someone else talked bad about Willi Nelson's guitar, Trigger.

What on earth is happening out there?

I've never heard anything bad about Willi Nelson in my entire life.

Ah, ... that would be me you're referring to.

And I stand by my other post. Willie is a great songwriter and was once a pretty good performer, but everything I've seen him do, at least in the last 5 years or so, he has been rushing the song and screwing up the timing in what appears to me to be a desire to get the song over with and go do something else. When he performs with other artists, as he often does these dyas, he screws up their timing of the song because he doesn't bother to even try to sing his words in time with theirs, and he has an unstopable habit of refusing to place the words on top of the beat - a technique often used in blues and jazz - but a technique that becomes very annoying when used constantly, and especially when it constantly throws the other singers off time.

The over all impression I get is that he's board, and just wants to get the performance over with.

Also, his guitar is falling apart. And it sounds bad. I saw him perform on Jools Holland's show and he couldn't keep the thing tuned. It was embarrassing. My guess is that the top has become so weak that it's losing structural integrity and the neck is bending back toward the bridge causing the pitch to go flat. And as the wood becomes weaker, the timbre of the guitar loses it's brilliance, too. It sounds dead.

It's a wonderful icon with all those signatures and stories on it and behind it. But the truth is that as a playable instrament, it's shot. I'm sorry, but it looks and sounds to me like Willie's over the hill, and just "phoning it in" these days. He should retire, and retire his guitar.

As for Tobey Kieth, all I know of him is that ridiculous hyper-patriotic song he did after 9/11. As an artist and an American citizen I was embarassed by it. It was so shallow and exploitive it made me cringe. What shlock! What pandering!

I'm no fan of the Dixie Chicks, either, but at least they're smart enough to buy songs from Patty Griffin, who is probably the best living female singer-songwriter in America. And I have no problem with any American saying whatever they want about America any time, any place. I also have no problem with people boycotting them for it. Though I personally think it's silly.

I like "roots music" moreso than "country". But I have liked a few of Randy Travis' songs, and George Jones, Hank Williams (the real one, not Junior), and Patsy Cline. There's probably a few others.

Mostly what I really like are musical artists, as opposed to musical performers. Nothing against performers, and there are some great ones out there, but I'll take a not-so-great artist over even a really great performer any time.

 

[Ody]

I don't know why but i can't STAND modern country music, at all...

When i do like it, it has to be old school like johnny cash, or bluegrass, otherwise, i'm in torture

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I like "roots music" moreso than "country". But I have liked a few of Randy Travis' songs, and George Jones, Hank Williams (the real one, not Junior), and Patsy Cline. There's probably a few others.

Well I guess you're not entirely evil.:clap

I'll just pretend that I never heard you say anything bad about Willi. It's better than having to tell my children - well, there was someone online once who said something deragatory about Willi, but other than that, no one has anything negative to say about him or his awesome guitar.

 

[Green Gaia]

I like a song or two here and there. But in general I don't listen to country music now. I don't think it's a coincidence that during the worst depression I've had so far I was really into country music and was drinking a lot - not a good combo for recovery. :areyoucra

 

[jewscout]

i was raised on country music so it is a huge part of my musical tastes and collection

 

[angellous_evangellous]

i was raised on country music so it is a huge part of my musical tastes and collection

Willie Nelson's On the Road Again is playing in the background of my first *musical* memory of Granpa Angellos - taking me on a fishing trip with Uncle Angellous. I was six years old, and it's the only time we've ever listened to music together.

 

[kateyes]

As a native born Texan--I wasn't given a choice its in the blood. Willie rocks--as a songwriter and singer. Many of the early rock bands list thier early influences as country music. The Dixie Chicks are NOT country.

 

[ladyhawke]

well as fluffy said its not that big in england and i've always hated country music....untill a friend introduced me to Lacy J Dalton,i have alot of her songs thanks to my friend play them loads,i have my favorites of course Black Coffee is one...but some days are just made for emminem or snow patrol and Lacy will be as far as i venture into country music .

 

[tcprowling]

I too am a major major LJD fan, unfortunately here in Australia, her material is as scarce as hen's teeth. I however do have probably the largest collection of her material in this country. To the best of my knowledge I have all but 13 songs off her albums. I'll clarify that I do have some of these but they are of very poor quality. SO if there is any other Lacy fans out there please feel free to contact me.
Now I wouldn't classify Lacy as a country singer, i feel her material is more cross over. Her roots were in Folk music way back. The Major labels had her pidgeon holed as country. Since she has gone idie she has returned more to her roots in her songwriting and her singing, as her last cd " the Last wild place" is testament. She might be one of the ledgends of yesteryear but " the last wild Place will stand up against anything and more then hold it's own against anything on the market to day
I have introduced many people to her material and the usualy comments are the even songs like Black coffee , imagine that, and her haunting " little boy Blue" are still great against the like of Shania and other " modern day female singers